The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-12-06
The Peery Fire.

In our Sunday mornings issue, we
published brief notice of fire which
occurred in this city in the "wee sma'
hours" the place being the large brick
store belonging to Hon. D. H. Peery on
Main Street, and occupied by himself
and sona as general store. by Mr.. W.
w. Funge as q hardware store, and
containing the offices and rooms of the
Chamber of Commerce.
1t appears that at about 11.30 o'clock
on Sa urday evening, when Mr.. D. II.
Peerv, Jr., left the store for home,
everything seemed to be all right, no
signs of-tire being susceptible. Mr..
Tavey, merchant of this city, was the
first to announce the fire, he having dis
covered it as he was leaving his store
few minutes after IL O'Clock, when he
perceived huge cloud of smoke emery
ms, from the third story windo of Mr..
Peery's magnificent structure. He lost
no time in making his discovery knows
at the proper places, hence it was not
long before the fire alarms were sound
ing srousing the citizens from their
otherwise peaceful slumbers. Crowds
soon assembled at the scene of the con-
flagration, where Chief Fireman Clark
and his efficient voluntary force were
hard at work endeavoring to subdue
the fry element; but it was difficult
indeed to locate the fire on account of
the density of the smoke, which seemed
to literally fill the whole building.
Three hose were quickly turned into
the first floor without any positive
knowledge of thus reaching the flames,
but this was found to be absolutely
necessary in order to locate their exact
position. 1t was soon found, however,
that the main fire was in the cellar,
from whence the flames had forced
their way through the floor into the re-
tail department, burning terrific hole,
and rendering a new floor indispensa-
BILE. The water and the efforts of the
army of workers were then turned in
this direction, and the flames were soon
under control, not, however, before an
excessive amount of damage had been
done.
Our reporter called upon Mr.. Henry
Peery, Jr., yesterday morning and
learned that they could not correctly
approximate the extent of the damage,
but he thought, as far as he had an OPP
portunity to examine that the firm
would suffer loss of about $50 900; at
east they carried STOCK OF C0aE value,
and he did not think there was much
saved, as what had not been burned
had been completely saturated In Wate-.
The store yesterday presented ! most
dilapidated appearance inside, nd it is
estimated that the building itself has
suffered injuries that 5000 will not
repair.
The firm carries $4,000 of insurance
on their stock and SIS, 900 on the build
ing, from which 1t will be seen that they
will suffer a net loss, after receiving
the amount OF their policies in full, of
about SIS 900.
Although large amount of damage
was done by water. Mr.. Peery exoner-
ated the firemen from all blame, as he
said they did all that could be done,
and worked assiduously, in fact like
beavers, to subdue the fire, and the
brave, noble men have the sincere
gratitude of the firm. Henry, through
persistent and gigantic efforts, sue
ceeded in saving the books Of the con-
Germ from what seemed inevitable des-
truction, the achievement being made
Notwithstanding the dense smoke which
filed the Office IN common with the
whole building
Mr.. Furg3 has only suffered, We
understand, a nominal loss, which is
fully covered by insurance. The rooms